Museum Haus Esters was built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a villa for the chairman of the VERSEIDAG (united factories for silk-production) Josef Esters. With the Museum Haus Lange it represents an unique architectural site in Europe.
In 1976 the City of Krefeld could purchase the villa. In 1981 Museum Haus Esters was opened as an exhibition space for contemporary art.